Wow, aren't we prolific this afternoon? Beth - this one is for you. ;)
This one is set in Hardy's office during ATW2 - when Harm wants Operating Instructions for Mac.
Did he not look yummy here with that five o'clock shadow? *thud*
-...
A Tangled Webb Pt 2
"What is it that you want from me, Harm?" Mac glared at him. He had rescued her, saved her from a fate worse than death and yet, he was acting as if he could care less about her. He'd been cold, callused and nothing like that man that she knew. It was frustrating, confusing and she wondered why she felt so much for him.
"Operating instructions would be nice." He tried to play cool and collected when all he wanted to do was take Mac and shake some sense into her. It had hurt him badly to see her kissing Webb, the man that had put her in such grave danger in the first place. And the bastard still got the girl. When it came to men, he would never understand Mac.
"You know, I actually need very little, only you've never figured that out." She had walked seductively towards him, her finger grazing his chest and sending a lick of fire through him. Mac was mocking him, enjoying the torture and he was fed up with it.
Before she could pass, Harm wrapped a hand around her wrist and pulled her towards him. "Are you really that simple, Mac?" He asked, eyebrows raised in question.
"I am not as complicated as you think, Harm. Never been." In fact, the only time she'd veered off course was with Dalton, the only man that had seduced her with pearls, money and the finer things in life. In the end, his World was meant for her. Mac craved to be back into the simplicity of her real life. "What is it about me that confuses you, Harm?" She pulled her wrist out of his grasp and folded her arms across her chest, standing defiantly before him. This wasn't the time and place for this conversation but, if he was ready to speak, far be it for her to stop him. She was growing weary of his inaction.
Harm snorted, "I came down here for you. Damned near get myself killed to find that you're playing house and making out with Webb. Sorry if I'm a little confused, Colonel." It was all he could think about since walking away from the hacienda with Mac. His brain kept pausing and rewinding on an endless loop that was driving him insane.
"I thought he was going to die. He still might and I didn't want it to be in vain. For better or worse, he kept me relatively safe." Mac defended sighing deeply at the untrusting look in his eyes. She hated when Harm played the jealousy card because it turned him into a jerk. He would wallow in it rather than put any action into his words. Moments like these she wondered if the only thing he felt for her was a deep infatuation. If he really cared, if he loved her, he'd fight for them not push her away. "Maybe it's me that needs instruction manuals for you?" She added cheekily.
"Give me a break. I couldn't be more transparent if I tried." He scoffed, sounding offended at her suggestion. Didn't she know how he felt by now? Didn't his declaration of love two and a half years prior mean a damned thing to her?
"Transparent? You are anything but. You hide behind chivalry and propriety not to rock the boat with me and then turn the jealousy card when it seems I may want to move on." With a huff, she unfolded her arms and pressed a finger painfully into his chest. "What is it that you want from me, Harm? Why is it that you are either too stupid or too stubborn to realize that I'm in love with you?" She said the words with earnest, eyes never leaving his as she hammered home the last few words. Mac had never been this candid with him about her feelings but, her near brush with death had made her bold. "I just want you to love me back. No operating instructions needed."
When he stood there staring at her, seemingly frozen with a shocked expression, Mac had decided she'd had enough. She had bared herself to him for the final time and wouldn't allow him to hurt her again. It was time to let him go. "You know, nevermind… After this I'm going to need therapy." But, when she tried to walk away he took her arm again, this time gripping her almost painfully as he pulled her against him. "Harm… let me…G-Mmmm."
Before she could finalize her protest, his lips had descended on hers hard and unrelenting, muffling her voice. She tried to push him away, to figure out what the hell had possessed him but, then his hand that came to the base of her skull had held her head roughly, forcing her to return the kiss.
Mac was unwilling at first but, when his demanding tongue had pushed past the seam of her lips without an invitation, her protest seemed null and void. She eased into his touch, a rich moan of compliance sounding at the back of her throat when his hand at her head trailed downward, stopping at her back and pulling her towards him. Her body came flush against his and the feel of his arousal pressing against her forced Mac to gasp.
His hands came down, kneading her six before raising her up urging Mac to wrap her legs around his waist as he pressed her against the doorframe. Harm never broke the kiss and only stopped when she begged him to, the feeling of him like this so raw it was making her dizzy. "We have to stop." She said, betraying her own words when her hand grazed over the part of him that she wanted inside her.
Harm was breathing heavy, the lustful look in his eyes doing nothing but making her want him more. "I love you, Mac… You have to know that by now." He said in a rush. "I came here for you, only for you." And with that, his lips were on hers again, teasing and tasting. He groaned when her hand brushed over him again and his body shook with anticipation. God, he wanted her more than anyone else and he'd felt like this for years.
His body pressed against her, hips grinding against her own through their clothing. But, when he made to slide a hand under the shirt that she wore, Mac stopped him and he stared at her in question. He may die of need but, he was damned if he would try to force her to do something she didn't want.
"I want you too." Mac confirmed and sighed happily when he kissed her again. "I want you so much but, I'm covered in dirt, blood and God knows what else."
"And you're still gorgeous." He stated with a sheepish grin and a slowly eased away when Mac's feet had touched the floor.
"I have a room, at the hotel… I…We could..." Mac trailed off when she realized how eager she sounded but, when Harm kissed her again, this time slowly, passionately, she knew he shared the same intentions.
